Automatic weigher.



No. 673,740. Patenten may 7,1901.

- F. c. sTucKEL.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER.

(Appumion 'sled Dee. 2s. 1900.)

L l ww/5M v u "3? TNI: novum rwth.: no, PHOTO-Luna. wnmnorom D. c.

un. 673,740. n Patented may 7, 190|.

F. C. STUCKEL. AUTDMATC WEIGHER.

(Application led Dec. 26, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mz mm ma: no. mmm.. wsnmrou, nA a r. c. sTucKEL.

Patented May 7,l ISUL AUTUMATIC WEIGHER.

4(Applelniiuu lsd Dec. 26, 1900.)

3 shuts-Sheet 3.

UNITEDr STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. STOUCKEL, OFV RACINE, WVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TOA JAMES R. YHARRISOVIWAND FI." LEE NORTON, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,740, dated May 7,1901.

App1imionieanecember 26,1900. semina. 41,073. (Nomad.)

Veighers, of which the following is hereby.

declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to apparatus especially suited for weighing grainor other gran ular material, and is designed as an improvement upon myprior construction set forth in Letters Patent No. 634,375, grantedOctober open bucket or receiver is hung beneath the spout of anelevator. Successive charges freely dow from the spout into the `openbucket7 and when-the load attains a given weight the bucket overbalancesand slightly shifts, releasing thereby the intermediate mechanism, whichpromptly shuts olf any further in'low and opens the bucket-bottom toletthe load fall. As the bucket rises again under the influence of thecounterpoise the weighted load has dropped out, the bucketbot-tomcloses, and the shut-od gate no longer obstructs the entry of the nextsucceeding charge.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofthe intermediate mechanism coacting with the counterpoised bucket forautomatically admitting, weigh-` ing, and discharging separate portionsof material.

The exact nature of the invention will ap pear in detail from thedescription following and be pointed out by the claims at itsconclusion. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view showing the weigher-bucket atnormal position suspended in counterpoise beneath the outlet-spout'of athreshing-machineelevator. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the opposite sideof the construction. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verticall sectionalview taken on theline 4 4 of Fig. 1. n

The elevator-tubes A fasten to a head 10, having a removable crown 11for ready access and side outlet-spout 12, through which the grainescapes.

In that construction a countcrpoised,

lsupporting-frame H.

The upper sprocket for the` ele'vatorchain is supported, .as usual, oncross-axle D, which journals in slotted bear- A ing-plates 13,adjustably secured by bolts at opposite sides of head 10. Cross-axle Dis constantly driven Ythrough the medium of a chain-Wheel at its outerterminal or by other suitable means and carries on its inner end thechain-pinion E, which revolves with the axle.

' Beneath the head 10 and between the ele- Vator-tubes A A extends thehorizontal counter-shaft G in parallel relation with the crossa'xle D.The counter-shaft G is mounted in suitable bearing-blocks 14 and l5,bolted to the plate H, which in turn is bolted to the This frame H issupportedr upon the elevator-tubes A A by the splitrings 16. A hub 17 isloosely mounted upon one end ofthe counter-shaft D and is interposedbetween the counter-shaft G and the bearing-block 15. This hub 17 isrevolubly held in place and against longitudinal motion by shouldersengaging eitherI side of the bearing-block 15, as clearly shown in Fig.

'4. Preferably cast integral with the hub 17 is a sprocket-wheel F onits outer end and a ratchet-wheel J upon its inner end, whichratcheawheel forms one of the members of a suitable clutch mechanism.The hubV 17, together with the ratchet-wheel J and sprocket,v F, iscontinuously rotated by a drive-chair;l l8,passing over the sprocket Fand the chainpinion E. (See Fig. 2.) The other member ofthe clutchmechanism comprises a sleeve K, keyed to the counter-shaft G, so as tobe longitudinally moved thereon, and provided with a dog 19 for engagingthe teeth of ratchetwheel J, adjustably bolted to the sleeve tocompensate for wear. l The sleeve K is also provided with a cam-shoulder20, which engages a friction stop-roller 21,mounted on a studhorizontally projecting from plate H. The cam-shoulderQO is providedwith a camlug 22. The sleeve K is held with its camshoulder 2O againstthe roller 21 and moved to bring dog 19 into engagement with ratchet Jby acushion-spring 23, interposed between the sleeve and a collar 24,pinned to the shaft. The end of the cam-lug 22 is normally in engagementwith the roller 21 to hold the dog 19 out of engagement with the ratchetJ, so

IOO

to the yoke-like gate38.

that the Vlatterisfree to Arevolve without 'af fecting the counterfshaftG. vThis shaft remains at a standstill `unless it is first slightlyshifted to disengage the cam-lug 22 lfrom the stop-roller 21, so thatthe dog 19 may be brought into'engagement with vratchet-J lby the spring23. l v

Weigher-bucket B is hung beneath the ontlet-spout 12 by means of a part25,-'fulcrumedyl as usual, to the outlet-spout' and furnished@ on oneside with a graduating scalefoeamY 26, adjustably secured thereto andnormally resting againstastop-lug 27. Side bails 428,'. fastened to thebucket, afford-,fulcrum-seats- 29 for pivotally suspending thel bucketfrom Ithe part 25. A valve 30curved to'conform to the bucket sides, -issustained by hangers 31 at pivots Y32 and serves, toclose the open'-bottom of the bucket. This Valve is slightly overhung with referencetov pivots`32, so that it tends always to swing shut inthe contact vwithstop'33, thusikeeping thev bucketbottom closed even against the weightof the accumu` lating load.

A pitman 34 is pivotally Joined at oneend `-.j/foone of the hangers'Sland at its other endv isprovided witha slot engaging the pin of a'crankfarm 35, which is secured to one end of:

the counter-shaft G. When this shaft beginsto revolve, crank-arm L35shifts pitman 34;

but owing'to the slot therein valve 30 remains unaffected until the lostmotion is'taken up.Iv

Thereupon the pitmanroperates to move the crank-arm 35 proceeds a slightdistance far therand then comes temporarily at rest tof await thedischarge of thenext'load. At the opposite end of the horizontalcounter-shaft G, outside of the sprocket F,-is mounted a crank-arm 36,the pin of which crank-arm engages theslotted lower end of a pitman-37,which is pivotally connected at its upper endv `The gateSS is pivoted,as at 39, on the outside of the elevatorvhead 10 and serves at intervalsto close the' vexitspout12for the grain. vthe gate 38 is not onlysufficient to hold the The weight of slotted end of pitman 37 againstthe pin of'y crank-arm 36, but is also sufficient to movel the gate toaolosed fposition as'soon as the Ashaft-Gand crank-arm 36v haveInovedthrough a partial revolutionybut, as shown inlFig. 2,y when thegate is in its normal open position.y

vthe crankarm 36is adjacent itsdead-centerf and in vorder that theweight of the gate may b e' brought in to operation to close it theshaft G must receive an initial partial rotation.

ter-shaft.

Between the hub ofgicrank-arm and hub` 1-7 on the counter-shaft'G'isafriction-washer 40, which is preferably of leather or similar yieldingmaterial.k This'friction-washer is' firmlypressedjagainstthe collar 17(which is .isheld against stop-roller 21) and the collarrv 24, which, asshown, is located 'slightly apart :held .againstLlongitudinalmovementfbyfthefV y if bearing-block 1-5) by the'h ub of crank-arm 36,"

from the bearing-block 14 in order that such vpressureupon:thefrictionfwasher 40 may be effective. ,(See Fig.`4.) By thismeans cony siderable friction is developed between Vthecontinuously-rotating hub 17 and the hub of y f crankv-arm 36 and'issufficient to impart'to the counter-shaft G an initial partal'rotationif the latter isr free to move.-

of the counter-shaft G, which stop is normally jected, as shown, frombucketB, and-thereby retains the shaft G at a standstill.

l Adog or stop-arm. `41'is mounted on a hub 42, vsecured to the endr Thestoparm 41 is so located with referencevto the camf.

lug 22 that whe'nfit is retainedstationary by the trip-off 43ftheend ofthe cam-lug engages the stop-roller 21,-,thus holding thefdog19 out ofengagementlwith the ratchet J. rvOncegthe jbucketis loaded it prom ptlyoverbalances the vscale-heartland turns vdown far venoughfor i fCounter-shaft "G thus stands released and experiences a mithe trip-off43 to clear stop 41.

nor impulse forward dueto rthefriction'between ythecontinuouslyfrotatingJhub 1,7 and thehub of crank-arm k'36. This `impulse is sufficientv todisengage :the cam-lug 22h-om.

the stop-roller 21and-the dog119 is immediately-thrownfinto the path ofthe teeth of the revolving ratchet-wheel J, and the shaft G -thereuponproceeds'toy describe-a ysingle revolution. The cam-lug on thespring-pressed clutch member K'm'ay also, ifdesiredybe arranged tocoperate with the roller 2l Ato assist' in giving this minorimpulse; tothercoun- With the movement of theshaft thespout-gate 38 commences toclose Vby', its

own weight, and the parts are so related that a slight Eforwardmotio'n'ofthe crank-shaft is sufficient to` enable the gate tocompletely close the opening of the 'spout A12. The pin of the crank-arm36J then [moves for about a onehalf revolution inactive'inthe slot ofthepitman 37 until it finally engages ntl1e-upper end of the slotandrestores thegate through the medium of vpitman 37 .to its'inormalopen position. 'Mea'nwhile the pitman 35 has 4opened and closed t-he'buck'et-'bottoun The movements .ofthe spout-gate and the'bucket-'bottom valve are readily timedandybesides, are very rapid', so thatpracticallythebucket receives no late excessl and @loses no prematuresurplus grain. -When thel'bottom-,Valve 30 'begins toI open,thebucket-weight is at once lessened and-the counterpoise proceeds tolift-the bucketto normal position. This movement restoresthe-trip-o-43-to the path IIS I ZOW/ counters at the end of the single revolutionof the crank-shaft Gr.A Simultaneouslythe f organization are thusassured.

,- the bucket-valve.

cam-lug 22 engages the stop-roller 21 and withdraws the dog 19 from theteeth of the ratchet J, while the encounter of stops 41 and` 43 at oncebrings shaft G to a standstill. A link 44, pivoted at its ends to bucketB and elevator-tube A, prevents the bucket from swaying as it moves upand down.

A tally-box L is mounted upon one of lthe elevator-tubes A and isoperated by a shaft 45, journaled in a bearing on the end of a lug 46,which lug projects from the frame H'. Shaft 45 is provided with aworm-gear 47, which engages a Worm 4S upon the hub 42. By this means theshaft 45 isv intermittently rotated by the Weigher-operating mechanism.

The location of the counter-shaft beneath the head and between theelevator-tubes enables said shaft to easily control by its terminalconnections both the spout-gate and The stop-block is carried by theshaft `torencounter the trip projected from the bucket?, `while thetally is inimmediate connection with the actuating-worm on the shaft.Compactness and simplicity of The chaindrive for the counter-shaftallows for ready readjustment of the elevator-chain, the shift ofcross-axle D for such purpose being eifected by means of thebracket-,plates 13.

Obviously the details of structure can be followed according to themechanics skill without departure from the essentials of theimprovement.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

, valvedV bottom, of mechanism for operating said spout-gate and saidbucket-bottom valve comprising a rotatable shaft, clutch members, onekeyed to and the other loose on said shaft, for throwing the latter intooperation intermittently, a fixed, rigid stop for holding one of saidclutch members out of engagement With the other, suitable means forimparting a slight initial movement to said mechanism for disengagingsaid clutch member from said stop, a trip-off operated by the bucket anda stop on said mechanism governed thereby.

2. 4In automatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout having acontrol-gate and a counterbalanced Weigher-bucket having a valvedbottom, of mechanism for operating said spout-gate and saidbucket-bottom valve comprisinga rotatable shaft, clutch members, onekeyed to and the other loose on said shaft, for throwing the latter intooperation int-ermittently, one of said clutch members beingspring-pressed, a camming-surface on said spring-pressed clutch membercooperating with a fixed, rigid stop, a trip-off operated by the bucketand a stop on said mechanism governed thereby.

3. In automatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout havingacontrol-gate and with a counterbalanced Weigher-bucket having a valvedbottom, of a rotatable shaft having operative connections with saidspoutgat-e and said bucket-bottom valve, a continuously-rotating clutchmember loose on said a valved bottom, of a counter-shaft provided withoperating connections joined to theh spout-gate and to the bucket-bottomvalve, respectively, a continuously-driven clutch member loose on saidshaft, a second, longitudinally movable clutch member keyed thereto andprovided with a cam-lug normally engaging a iixed stop, suitable meansfor giving an initial'partial revolution to the counter-shaft, atrip-off operated by the bucket and a stop on said shaft governedthereby, substantially as described.

5. In automatic Weighers, the combination With the outlet-spout having acontrol-gate and the counterpoised Weigher-bucket having a valvedbottom, of a counter-shaft provided with operating connections joined tothe spout-gate and to the bucket-bottom valve, respectively, acontinuously-driven ratchetwheel loose on said shaft, alongitudinallymovable, spring-pressed sleeve keyed on said shaft,provided with a dog for engaging said ratchet-wheel and with a cam-lugcoperating with a fixed stop for holding the dog out of engagement withsaid Wheel,suitable means for giving an initial partial revolution tothe lcounter-shaft for disengaging the cam-lug from said stop, atrip-off operated by the `bucket and a stop on said shaft governedthereby, substantially as described.

6. In automatic Weighers, the combination with the elevator-tubes, theelevator-head connecting said tubes and provided with a cross-axle forthe endless belt, the outletspout having a control-gate and With thecounterpoised Weigher-bucket provided With IOO engaging a Xed. rig'idstop for'holding the clutch members apart, suitable means for impartingan initial partial revolution to the counter-shaft, a trip-ofE-operatedby the Y`bucket and a stop on, said shaft governed thereby,substantially as described.

7. In lautomatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout having acontrol-gate and with acounter'poised Weigher-buckethaving a valvedbottom, of a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said spout-gateand to-said bucket-bottom valve, a clutch member carried by said shaftand rotatable therewith, a

stop for holding said clutch member in its disengaged position, meansfor imparting an ini-l tial partial revolution `to said shaft fordisengagin g said clutch member from said stop, said means comprising acontinuously-rotating part loose on saidshaft and a friction-surfacecarried by said shaft and engaging said continuously-rotatin g part,atri-p-o operated bythe bucket and a stopcarried by said shaft governedthereby: l

8. In automatic weighers, the combination with the outlet-spout having acontrol-gate and with the counter-poised Weigher-bucket having a valvedbottom, of a counter-shaft having operating connections joined to the ,pspout-gateand to the bucket-bottom valve, a'

y clutch member vmoll'ln'te'd' on'saidfv shaft and normally held in itsdisengaged position bya -cam-lug/coperating with a fixed stop,suitablemeans forimpartin g an initial partial revolnf tion to the counter-shaftcomprising av con-A tin noiiSly-rotatin g part loose on said shaft and afriction-surface spring-pressed againstsaidr continuously-rotatin gpart,a trip-olf operated by the bucket and a stop on said shaft governedthereby, substantially as described.

9. In automatic Weighers, the combination .with the outlet-spout havinga control-gate and with the counterpoised weigher-bucket provided witha'valved bottom, of a countershaft having operating connectionsjoin'edto the spoutgate andfto the bucket-'bottom valve, a continuously-rotating part loose upon the counter-shaft, alongitudinally-'movable `clutch member keyed to said shaft and kprovidedWith a cam-lug normally engaging a fixed stop, a friction-washerinterposed between said continuously-rotating part and a collar ixed tosaid shaft, a trip-off operated-, .by the bucket and a-stop en saidshaft gov erned thereby,y substantially as described.

Y FBNK C. STUGKEL. Witnesses: l/ 1 EDWIN ERUSSELL', WYNN W. SCOTT.

